Photographic lighting apparatus



g- 1939. w. c. HOFFMAN PHQTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING APPARATUS I Filed May 26, 1938 48 6 7a w b ||m..|||||||1||||| Z l llllllllllll lLllllllllvlllllaln 4 4 0 z Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNITED STATES aliases PATENT orrlcs PHOTOGRAPHIC LIGHTING APPARATUS William Clarence Hoffman, Baltimore, Md.

Application May 26, 1938, Serial No. 210,133

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a photographic light apparatus.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a portable photographic light apparatus for enabling the taking of pictures in the studio, house at night or in any dark room, the main advantages in the use of the light apparatus being in that even the operator can be in the picture, and that it is of a minimum weight so that the same is readily portable from one place to another for different scenes and picture taking. The portable light apparatus consists of a base and an adjustable pedestal carrying a reflector and a flash light bulb. In the base is provided a dry cell battery unit connected with the flash light bulb and with a switch aflixed to the end of a long flexible electric cord adapted to be closed either by hand or foot to operate the flash light bulb.

With the foregoing objects and advantages and other objects in View, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a photographic pedestal light with the base thereof in section.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the pedestal base, partly in section of a modified form of construction.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the photographic light indicated generally in Figure 1, by the reference numeral 10 comprises a hollow base i I of any suitable shape or size on which is centrally fixed a vertical tubular pedestal I2 of any desired length and diameter. Preferably the pedestal i2 is formed of a length of metallic pipe having its lower end threaded and inserted through a central opening i3 in the base I I, which pipe is secured to said base through the medium of the clamping action of the upper and lower lock nuts Hi and i5. Arranged for telescoping sliding movement within the pedestal i2 is an adjustable length of like metallic pipe IE, to the upper end of which is suitably mounted a flash light bulb socket I! and a reflector I8, the pipe 16 being held in adjusted position on the pedestal 2 by means of the set-screw l 9.

Extending through the pipe l6 and pedestal I2 is a length of electric light cord 20 the upper end of which is aflixed to the terminals of the socket 11 (not shown) in the manner well known. Preferably the length of electric cord 29 is coiled and may be provided with a self coiling spring (not shown) to accommodate separating and contracting movement of the pipe 16 and pedestal 12.

,Within the hollow base I l is disposed a dry-cell battery unit which as shown in Figure 1, consists of two dry cell batteries 23 and 24, of the type commonly utilized in doorbell circuits, the batteries 23 and 24 are arranged in opposed relation With their terminals facing each other, and are supported by end brackets 25 formed intergral with the base II and depending clamping straps 26 operated by the bolts 26a, which function to securely hold the batteries against movement in all directions.

Provided at a suitable point in the base H is a bushing collar 21 through which one end of a switch (electric-light) cord 28 passes into the interior of the base II, the bushing collar 21 further functioning to hold this end of the switch cord 28 secured to the base i I. The other end of the switch cord 28 is connected to the terminals (not shown) of a switch 30 of any desired make, preferably of the push-button type commonly used in a door-bell system. The switch 30 may be mounted on a suitable base (not shown) if so desired.

The batteries 23 and 24 are connected in series in the manner shown, the conductors 20a of the cord 20 and 28a of the cord 28 being connected to the positive terminals, the negative terminals being connected by the conductor 3 i, and the conductors 20b and 28b being connected together all in the manner well known. By pushing on the switch button 39a, the circuit is closed and the flash light bulb 32 will then light up.

In Figure 3 is shown a modified form of construction wherein only one battery 33 is utilized, the construction otherwise being identical with that shown and described in detail in Figure 1,

with reference to the mounting of the battery 24 therein.

Having thus described by invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a photographic light apparatus comprising a hollow base, a telescoping vertically adjustable pedestal fixed to said base and carrying at its upper end a light bulb, a dry cell battery unit including means for mounting the same within said base and operatively connected to said light bulb, a portable switch remote from said base, a switch cord connecting said switch with said battery circuit whereby said light may be operated by remote control by the closing of said switch, said dry cell battery unit comprising two horizontally lying batteries arranged in opposed relation with their terminals facing each other and in juxtaposition to the center of said base, said battery mounting means comprising a pair of brackets rigid with a wall of said base each adapted to support one end of a battery, a pair of depending straps fixed to the top wall of said base and adapted for connection each to 'a battery adjacent its terminal end whereby to securely lock said batteries in position, and a bushing collar fixed to said top wall of said base through which an end portion of said switch cord extends for connection to said battery circuit. 

